The other day visual artist Michael Soi took to his Facebook page to
protest an incident where he got ‘visitors’ at his studio based at the
Godown Arts Centre. ‘My latest piece ‘Santa is coming to town’ has
finally drawn the wrath of the Chinese,” wrote Soi. “Four gentlemen and a
lady from China walked into my studio and one of them went off about
how ungrateful I was to all China is doing for Kenya…”

Initially one man got into his studio and after scanning some of his
artworks burst off laughing. “He later went and came with the other
guys,” he explains. “These people could not wrap their heads around the
fact that I am not grateful for all the ‘good things’ China is doing to
Kenya. I told them that I am an artist and therefore I cannot engage
them in a political discussion.”

Incidentally, the visit from the Chinese ‘Delegation’ coincided with
the much-talked about visit by the Chinese Prime Minister who came to
the country with a bag of goodies, which included money to kick start
the controversial Standard Gauge Railway

As an artist, Soi says that he has the license to question things.
“We are not supposed to accept everything just because those in
authority tell us they are good; that is how corruption scandals are
hatched,” he adds. To be honest Soi says that he views the newly-found
found friendship between Kenya and China with a lot of suspicion.

“The IMF and World Bank attach a lot of conditionalities before they
give out their aid,” he says. “But the Chinese are giving their money
without any conditions. This is one way of abetting impunity among our
leaders; that no matter how many people are killed or imprisoned China
will still pour in money, money that most likely ends up in people’s
pockets and which will be paid by our children in years to come.”

The piece that so much angered the Chinese forms part of the popular China Loves Africa,
a series of paintings that takes a mischievous and satirical look at
the relation between China and Africa. In his pieces Soi takes the view
that China is not necessarily genuine in her relations with Africa. In
one piece titled China Loves Africa 7, the Chinese are
portrayed holding elephant tusks and rhino’s horn. This is in reference
to the allegations that it is the Chinese that are fueling the runaway
poaching of these products. Interestingly when the Chinese Premier was
in town, together with his host Uhuru Kenyatta, made a symbolic visit to
the Nairobi National Park. He even gave out money meant to go towards
fighting poaching.

Soi has landed an invite to do an exhibition in South Korea, where the China Loves Africa series will be a major attraction.

Apart Sino-Africa affairs the burly artist has developed an
interesting character called Omari. He uses the character to highlight
the ills that take place in the society. The typical Omari character is
possibly a coastal native who sees the only way of earning an income is
by hooking up with white women. “My intention is to ask whether these
relationships are genuine,” explains Soi. “Most of these boys drop out
of school at an early age to go after these women. I have spoken with
some of these boys and they tell me they are in it for the money. They
believe that a Mzungu will help them cross the poverty border.”

“In most cases the African boys have wives at home. One might think
that it is Omari who is lying to the Mzungu but the woman is also doing
her fair share of lying; some these women come to Africa with the
knowledge that the relationship will last for as long they are here,”
explains Soi who adds that Kenyan tourism, especially at the coast, is
fuelled by sex.

Soi says that he likes to make his art simple. “What you see is what
you get,” he says. “I paint what I see; I am not in the business of
judging people.” This is especially so in his pieces where he shows men
in strip joints. “I have been accused of portraying society in negative
light but then it is a fact that men, even ‘decent’ church going types
visit these joints where women are skimpily dressed.” In any case, he
adds that strip joints are not cheap places to visit. “They are
frequented by people with deep pockets; not your everyday ‘pervets’; I
do not create these things.” he adds.

Soi who mostly works with acrylics on canvas has series of portraits
that he sews on to women’s handbags. “These are what pay bills,” he
says. “They have become so popular with women I can barely meet the
demand.” Each bag goes for sh3,000.

The other day visual artist Michael Soi took to his Facebook page to
protest an incident where he got ‘visitors’ at his studio based at the
Godown Arts Centre. ‘My latest piece ‘Santa is coming to town’ has
finally drawn the wrath of the Chinese,” wrote Soi. “Four gentlemen and a
lady from China walked into my studio and one of them went off about
how ungrateful I was to all China is doing for Kenya…”

Are Chineses the new white conquerors?Africa better wake up... this is pretty much gentrification... the Chinese will push the Africans to crappier and crappier lands, until all they have is the war torn countries and the camps for refugees.

this type of stuff really gets my blood boiling. The asians in general view blacks and africans as lower than trash. For them to go over and start taking land is so wrong. But the african government is so corrupt that they will let them so long as they get some money.

If ppl are so concerned by this, they would stay and try to "fix" their home countries instead of immigrating elsewhere. So many Africans are fleeing and seeking refuge elsewhere, which opens the door for stuff like this to happen.

China has pretty much contaminated most of their natural resources in the name of greed, hate to see them do it in other countries.

If ppl are so concerned by this, they would stay and try to "fix" their home countries instead of immigrating elsewhere. So many Africans are fleeing and seeking refuge elsewhere, which opens the door for stuff like this to happen.

China has pretty much contaminated most of their natural resources in the name of greed, hate to see them do it in other countries.

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